Mattresses for face down sleeping



Nov. 15, 1960 F. N. SOULELES 2,959,794

MATTRESSES FOR FACE DOWN SLEEPING Filed Jan. 27, 1958 FIG. 1.

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United States Patent MATIRESSES FOR FACE DOWN SLEEPING Fred N. Souleles, 966 Oak Glen Road, Beaumont, Calif.

Filed Jan. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 711,343

1 Claim. (Cl. -345) This invention relates generally to mattresses and more particularly to a mattress incorporating a face aperture.

Many persons prefer to sleep in a prone, or face down position, and there are others who find it necessary to sleep in a prone position to relieve certain abnormal strains and tensions of the body, particularly in the neck and back,

Heretofore, it has been difiicult for many persons to sleep in a completely prone position, since the head must be turned to one side in order to provide for normal breathing, or a pillow must be used to raise the head and alleviate pressure on the nose and mouth and provide breathing space. In the former case, a proper prone position is not achieved because of the twist in the neck, while in the latter case, the neck is bent back in an awkward and uncomfortable manner that makes complete relaxation impossible.

In addition, there have been many cases of infants requiring special prone positions for sleeping, but this is a situation fraught with danger, as the infant may spit up food and have difficulty in breathing. In cases like this, suffocation is an ever-present danger.

The same situation applies to many persons afilicted with respiratory diseases, in which case drainage of some sort is necessary from the mouth or nose.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a mattress for face down or prone sleeping, wherein means is provided to allow free and normal breathing.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mattress with a duct for drainage of fluids or other matter that may accumulate about the sleepers face and head.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a mattress adapted to assure a fresh air supply to the sleeper at all times.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of my invention will become clear to those skilled in the art from the following description, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mattress embodying the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same, taken at 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view, as seen from the left-hand end of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view through another embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings the mattress is designated in its entirety by the numeral and is seen to be of conventional over-all proportions with an aperture or cavity at ice the head end thereof, which is indicated by'the numeral 20.

The mattress 10 may be of any conventional internal construction, such as inner spring or foam rubber, and is covered with a cloth covering 12. For purposes of illustration, I have shown a foam rubber type of mattress; the cushion of which is designated by the reference numeral 11.

The aperture 20 extends through the thickness of the mattress 10, and is lined on all sides by sheet plastic or other waterproof lining material 21. The edges of the aperture 20 are rounded to fit the human face without discomfort, and the aperture 20 is elliptically shaped and of such size that the average face will properly be accommodated, with the forehead resting on the upper or head end of the hole and the rest of the hole generally cradling the cheeks and chin so that the nose and mouth extend down into the aperture.

In the form of my invention particularly illustrated in the cross sectional view of Figure 2, the aperture 20 extends through from one side of the mattress to the other, so that the mattress may be reversed and either side used.

A respiration aperture, indicated generally by the reference numeral 22, from the head end thereof, and communicates with the aperture 20, into which the head is placed. Thus a proper air intake is provided through the aperture 22, which is likewise lined with sheet plastic or other suitable lining material 21 such as an impervious rubber skin on a sponge rubber mattress.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown only by the cross sectional view of Figure 4, the face and breathing apertures are Shown as 30. In this case, the aperture does not extend through the thickness of the mattress, but slopes downwardly towards the head end thereof and is lined with sheet plastic or other lining 21, the same as the first embodiment. This latter construction is particularly desirable for infants or other persons who must have a drainage system provided. A mattress formed as shown has the disadvantage that only one side may be used for sleeping but it has the advantage of providing a. duct, from which liquids and the like will properly drain so that breathing Will not be interrupted.

In the case of double beds, there would be two face apertures, with appropriate respiratory ducts provided at the head end of the mattress. In this case, the two face apertures and respiratory ducts would be spaced at appropriate distances from the sides of the mattress so that two persons would each occupy approximately one-half the width of such mattress.

It will be understood, of course, that sheets used in connection with mattresses of this construction must be provided with suitable apertures to accommodate the apertures in the mattress, or such sheets may be specially contoured to fit the same.

While the embodiments of my invention which I have disclosed and described are fully capable of performing the functions and achieving the objects and advantages desired, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

A mattress of the class described comprising a mattress body of conventional construction having an aperture extending through the thickness of said mattress spaced between the ends and edges of said mattress, said cavity being so shaped and proportioned as to receive and engage the face of a human being placed downward into said cavity when either side of said mattress is up; a second aperture intercornmunicating with said first aperture and running perpendicular thereto and intercomrnunicating with an opening through one end of said mattress; and a water-proof lining about all of the sides and edges of each of said apertures; and' an air permeable covering on the edge of said mattress over said aperture intercommunicating with said edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Milam Aug. 4, 1925 Albert Dec. 12, 1939 Simons June 3, 1941 West Oct. 9, 1951 Carruth Oct. 29, 1957 Painter Oct. 14, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Au 23, 1938 

